Author(s): Agbodjobé Kpèdétin Wilfrid Dieu-Donné, Ngarsou Pierre, Taiwe Sotoing Germain, Bonoy Lamou, Messan Folly and Dansou Pierre

Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus leaves on swimming endurance and visceral fat mass. The rats were males of the Wistar strain, weighing between 130 and 180 g. Two groups of 25 rats were formed and fed with standard laboratory food. Each group was divided into 5 batches of 5 rats. The first group received treatment for 28 days with distilled water, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg extract, then subjected on the 28th day to forced swimming until exhaustion with a load of 10% of body weight attached to the tail, the swimming time of each rat was recorded. The second group received treatment for 14 days with distilled water, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg extract and performed forced swimming every 2 days with a load of 10% of the body weight attached to the tail. Test results showed that the extract caused a significantly lower (p< 0.05) score in the swimming time of rats under acute exercise at the dose of 400 mg, but no decline under chronic exercise. The extract also caused a lower visceral fat mass score (p< 0.001). In conclusion, the aqueous extract, although not improving endurance, effectively regulates fat levels in rats.

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